President Donald Trump has confirmed he asked Fifa to review United States striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match suspension at the World Cup.

Trump says football’s world governing body “made the right decision” to suspend Balogun’s ban, adding it would have left a “big stain” on the tournament had it been implemented.

Balogun, 25, was set to be suspended for his side’s last-16 tie against Belgium on Tuesday after being shown a straight red card for a foul on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic in the previous round.

On Sunday, Fifa made the shock decision to suspend the automatic one-match ban for 12 months, freeing the way for the United States forward – who has scored three goals at this summer’s tournament – to be selected for the match in Seattle.

Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump said he had asked Fifa to review the decision because he “didn’t think it was a foul”.

He added: “I thought it was two great athletes who crashed into each other and got entangled,” said Trump

“I think it [the suspension] would have left a big stain. I can’t tell them what to do. I don’t believe they made the decision; I believe it was the commission that made the decision. And it was the right decision.”